Powlus makes impact with Irish eyes and ears
Once-hyped QB thrives in player development job
“I don’t sit here every day thinking how I can get back on the field.” Ron Powlus, saying he’s content in an administrative rather than coaching role at Notre Dame
Ron Powlus was going to be the greatest quarterback in Notre Dame history. He was going to win at least two national championships and at least two Heisman Trophies in four years.
At least, that’s what then-ESPN college football analyst Beano Cook predicted 10 months before Powlus took his first snap for the Fighting Irish in September 1994.
“No one will ever come into Notre Dame facing more pressure than Ron did,” athletics director Jack Swarbrick said. “You see a picture of him on the cover of Sports Illustrated in the hallway. There’s an understanding that he’s been where you are.”
The hotshot quarterback had guided Berwick (Pa.) High School to multiple state championships, led the top-ranked team in the country, was an honor roll student and the nation’s top recruit. He chose to play for coach Lou Holtz and Notre Dame over Miami (Fla.), Penn State, Stanford and Pittsburgh.
Thinking back on those expectations nearly 24 years later, Powlus tried to think of an adequate word to describe them. He came up with “ridiculous.”
Because after all that hype, the Irish went 30-17-1 during his four seasons with no national championships. He didn’t win a Heisman, and he appeared in two bowl games, both losses.
“I don’t spend any time thinking about that,” Powlus said.
That’s pretty good mind over matter considering Powlus works in the building where his picture is plastered on the wall. Last year, Powlus was hired to be Notre Dame’s director of player development. He had coached quarterbacks at Kansas for three seasons and was pursuing several different options before returning to South Bend, he said. His friend, director of football operations Chad Klunder, told him about the position, and Powlus was interested.
He had served in this role at Notre Dame in the 2005 and ’ 06 seasons before becoming the quarterbacks coach for Charlie Weis from 2007 to 2009, working with Jimmy Clausen.
In this somewhat behind-thescenes job, Powlus acts as a liaison between the players and coaching staff and is the primary contact between the student welfare and development office and the academic services department. He’s also a resource for players who might be struggling on the field and want to talk about playing time or problems with the coaching staff. He can empathize with just about any situation.
For example, he broke his collarbone twice, his left arm once, strained his knee and suffered a concussion, in addition to dealing with losing games. He had a brief stint in the NFL, signing with the Tennessee Oilers as a free agent in 1998 and was on various rosters through 2000.
“As (players) get to know me now, I think they’ll see me as a fair guy,” Powlus said. “They know I’ve been in their shoes.”
Among his responsibilities, Powlus coordinates community service projects — last month, the team played a softball game against local law enforcement members to raise money for Indiana C.O.P.S., a group that provides support for families of officers who died on duty. He brings in speakers — this summer, the team has heard from Ray Rice about domestic violence, Sarah Uhran of the APC Agency about the power of social media and brand building, and had a Title IX presentation about safety and inclusion on campus, as well as sexual assault prevention, policies and procedures.
He also teaches a freshman seminar class once a week to all students that helps them navigate the first-year experience.
One thing Powlus is most proud of, though, is the internship and study abroad programs. For three weeks each May, athletes have the opportunity to travel and work before coming back to campus for summer workouts. Swarbrick asked his staff to create the program three years ago. This way, athletes who cannot study abroad during the fall or spring semesters and are unavailable for a 10-week internship over the summer might have similar opportunities.
This year, nine football players went abroad to places such as Brazil and Greece, and 18 had three-week internships at GE Capital and JP Morgan, among other companies.
These components are part of the “4 for 40” concept Powlus has helped create. It was a hashtag coaches used for recruiting that he has blended into the football program. The goal is to maximize personal and professional growth and engagement off the field to ensure future success.
“You find yourself a lot pulling teeth to get participation sometimes, and that has changed dramatically since Ron has been engaged,” Swarbrick said. “I simply don’t get any of the complaints of, ‘ Oh, do we have to do X?’ Or, ‘ Why are we doing this?’ The atmosphere changed completely around all the stuff he’s doing.”
Powlus doesn’t know if he’ll get back into coaching. His family has moved four times in the last six years, and he said he’s not in a holding pattern just to angle himself for the next opening.
“I dive in,” he said. “If you’re going to do something, might as well do it right. I’m not half here, doing player development and trying to get a coaching job on the side. I’m happy. I don’t sit here every day thinking how I can get back on the field.”
Swarbrick isn’t worried about an ulterior motive. He sees how players engage with Powlus and credits the success of the program to his authenticity and ability to easily develop relationships because of his background.
“The players know he’s never going to B.S. them, and they’re well advised not to B.S. him,” Swarbrick said. “He’s such a straight shooter.”